PFC Lynch gets a Bronze Star?

Subject: PFC Lynch gets a Bronze Star?
From: Cub Driver
Date: 7/26/03 3:37 AM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:


Come on! Were you guys ever in the army? You're asking for purity with
respect to medals that exists nowhere else. Jessie deserves her Bronze
as much as the average GI ever deserved a medal. You're talking like a
bunch of flight simmers debating whether they could whup Erich
Hartmann's ass, when they've never even taken a plane off the ground.

Good on you, Jessie! You're cute as a button and I hope you didn't
hurt too much those days when you didn't know whether you were going
to live or die. Welcome home, kid, and wear that medal proudly all the
days of your life. I'm proud that you wore the uniform, sweetheart,
and I'm glad I never had to go through what you did.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

Oustanding post. The wannabees sure are getting tiresome.

Arthur Kramer
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

I'm proud that you wore the uniform, sweetheart,
and I'm glad I never had to go through what you did.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

Oustanding post. The wannabees sure are getting tiresome.

Arthur Kramer

Whaaatever...just seems that you guys are looking at short term
gain at the expense of long term. If you want to degrade the
'value' of your medals then why should I care?...fill yer
boots...
--

-Gord.

I'm proud that you wore the uniform, sweetheart,
and I'm glad I never had to go through what you did.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

Oustanding post. The wannabees sure are getting tiresome.

Arthur Kramer

Whaaatever...just seems that you guys are looking at short term
gain at the expense of long term. If you want to degrade the
'value' of your medals then why should I care?...fill yer
boots...
--

-Gord.


I agree with all three of you. Those who were never there will never understand
that a combat atta boy medal for service without valour is needed.

Gord is also correct in that we do hand out way too many decorations on the
whole. I won't address specific other than to say look at the achievment and
commendation medals as they are shovelled out now versus 20 years ago.

There is one ribbon issued that defies logic. Whether you go through basic,
OSC, OTS, ROTC, the li'l 2 week orientation for medical/legal officers etc you
get a cute li'l bitty ribbon that says you are authorized to wear the uniform.

I find it mildy amusing that a U.S.A.F. serviceman,non flying, enlisted or
officer, is likely to have more confetti on his chest after 4 years man who
served in the infantry in combat during WW2 in the U.S.
Army.

On another subject if the U.S. Army had been at Rorke's Drift instead of the
Brits the commander would have got the MOH, the officers and a few enlisted
would have got the silver star and some of the rest would have got the bronze
star. IIRC there were 11 VCs awarded. Most of those went to the enlisteds.

Dan, U. S. Air Force, retired

"B2431" wrote in message
...
I find it mildy amusing that a U.S.A.F. serviceman,non flying, enlisted or
officer, is likely to have more confetti on his chest after 4 years man
who
served in the infantry in combat during WW2 in the U.S.
Army.

The only way to really figure crap out any more is to look at the ribbons as
a whole. I've seen quite a few Navy types with lot's of Navy Commendation
Medals, etc. and no sea service ribbon. With the Army it's a little more
difficult but look for campaign ribbons (ie. NATO medal (Bosnia), SW Asia,
Armed Forces Expeditionary). It won't let you know if they've done combat,
but at least you know they've had to endure some amount of hardship.

I find it mildy amusing that a U.S.A.F. serviceman,non flying, enlisted or
officer, is likely to have more confetti on his chest after 4 years man
who
served in the infantry in combat during WW2 in the U.S.

Barrett Tillman reported that Marion Carl, at the end of his career, thought
the system had been so debased that he would only wear medal ribbons for actual
awards for heroism, and wartime campaign ribbons. Official portraits of him
from 1970 show him as a Major General with four rows of ribbons, starting with
a Navy Cross with a Star in lieu of a second award.

"B2431" wrote in message
...

On another subject if the U.S. Army had been at Rorke's Drift instead
of the
Brits the commander would have got the MOH, the officers and a few
enlisted
would have got the silver star and some of the rest would have got the
bronze
star. IIRC there were 11 VCs awarded. Most of those went to the
enlisteds.

Well, there were only 2 officers there, and both got the VC, deservedly
I feel..
Interestingly, the next highest in rank (Colour Sergeant Bourne) did
not.

The CO